Metal furniture



' July 1," 1930. E. JfcARD 1,76,);255

' METAL FURNITURE Filed Mardh 29, 1927 2 Sheets-Shet 1 Earl James CamJuly 1, 1930. E. J. CARD METAL FUR ITURE 2 Shets-Sheet 2 Filed March 29,1927 Edd Jams Card HHEELi-LL.

Patented Jul .1; 1930 UNITED. STAT AF'ENLT EARL JAMES CARD; OEJAMESTOWN, NEW YORK, AS$IGNOR TO JAMESTOWN METAL EQUIPMENT 00., INC! onJAMEs'ro'wN; NEW YORK, A CORPORATION OF'NEW YORK METAL FURNITURE 7Application filed March as, 1927. Serial No. 179317.

desks, have heretofore been made and con-,

structed'? chiefly with the View of makinga substantialand yetattractive: article By meansof'the present invention, as will be seenfrom a" consideration of the specification and drawings; a substantialand attractive piece of furniture? is provided in: which theparts-enteringjinto the assembled article are-so formed that-theymay befitted togeth'er'w ith the least possible effort without sacrificingstrength for easeof assemblage.

One object of this invention is to provide apiece: of metal furniturewhich, dueto, its peculiar construction, is: quickly and easilyassembled: with a minimum number of fas- -i teninga'screws. ,7

Another-object of this invention is to provide apiece of metalfurniturequickly as sembled: and suificie'ntly stron-gto stand up under more-thannormal usage;

A- further object of? this invention is to providea: piece of metal:furniture; the parts of'which are constructed and. completely finishedbefore being assembled; and which may be repaired, if found imperfect inany respect, by,- removing the imperfect part and substituting a perfectpart; therefor without serious. inconvenience either to the purchaser ormanufacturer.

Other objects of this invention will appjear from a consideration of thefollow-Vin g specification taken in connection with the drawings whichform a part'thereof and in which: r

Figure l is-a front elevation of apiece of metal furniture-embodyingthis inventi on, a desk being selected for purpose of; illustration;

Figure 2 is a fragmentary bottoln plan View of the top of the desk;

Figure 3 is a sectional View of one pedestal of said desk taken on theline 33,. Fig. 1; v s Figure at is an enlarged cross sectional View ofone of the legs illustrated in Fig 3;

Figure 5' is an enlargedsectional View taken on the line 55 of Fig. 1; V

Figure 6 is a side elevation of one of the legs; r

F igure-7 is a fragmentary View showing a drawer stop frame partiallyassembled in a pedestal; V p

Figure 8 is an enlarged fragmentary View of Figure 7 showing'the way inwhich the stops are supported in the side rails of the frame; s

Figure 9 is a fragmentary view of a por.

tion of a sliding leaf and its supporting and guiding means;and p IFigure 10 is an enlarged sectional View of a corner of the top of thedesk and shows a clamping means for holding the surface of the articlein place.

Referring to the drawings, 10 represents the desk which was selected asan illustration of an article of metal furniture embodying thisinvention and which comprises legs 11, side walls 12, a rear wall 18pedestals l4, and a top 15.

Each leg 11 comprises two outer walls 20 and 21 at right angles to eachother and two inner walls 22 and 23 at right angles to said outer walls.From the upper end of the leg 11 on which the tabletop 15 is supporteddown to ledge 24L upon which, as will be pointed out below, rests acorner of each pedestal 14,"theinner walls 22- and'23 are cut away asshown in Figs. 4 and 6. 7 Below the ledge -2a, the walls 22 and 23'overlap at their adjoining edges '25 and form with the walls 20 and 21complete legs tapered asshown in Fig. 6. The walls 20 and 21 aretrimmedat their joinder and the edges welded together at 26 in order toproduce a proper taper to the leg.

The bases of the legs 11 carry shoes 27 secured thereto in the followingmanner. Within the leg 11 is a rectangular plate 28, each corner 29being cut away and each side terminating in a'flange 30. The plate 28 isplaced in the leg 11 with the flanges 30 extending downwardly to thelower edges of the leg walls and is secured in that position by anysuitable means as for example welding. Through the center of the plate28 is tapped a hole 31. The tip 27 has a central vertical passage 32which receives a bolt 33.

The bolt 33 extends into the hole 31 with the wall of which it hasthreaded engagement and thus fixes the shoes 27 to the leg.

Secured to the inner faces of the walls 20 and 21 above the ledge arevertical flanges 34. These flanges correspond in length to the cut awaysection of the walls 22 and 23 and form therewith rectangular pockets 35for a purpose to be described later. At the upper end of each outer wall20 and 21 is fixed to the inner face an angle bracket 36, one arm 37 ofwhich projects outwardly from the leg.

Upon the wall 21 is fixed at right angles a bracket 38 the lower edge ofwhich is at the ledge 24. The bracket 38 projects inwardly from the wall21 resting against the wall 23 and extending beyond the inner edgethereof. The flange 34 carried by the wall 21 is shorter than the otherflange 34 by the ieight of the bracket 38 and terminates at the upperedge of the bracket 38.

The side walls 12 are of sheet material and have at each vertical end aflange 40. These flanges 40 are hook shaped and are formed by bendingthe vertical edge of the wall outwardly at right angles to itself at 41and parallel to the main body of the wall 12 at 42. The flanges 40correspond in dimension to the pockets 35 and the side walls areinterlocked with the legs thereby when the desk is assembled. The wall12 has in addition to the vertical flanges 40, a horizontal flange 43projecting outwardly from its upper edge, and a vertical flange 45projecting inwardly and substantially midway between and parallel to theflanges 40.

The rear wall 13 has vertical flanges 50 identical inconstructionwiththe flanges 40 of the wall 12, and these flanges 50 areinserted in the pockets 35, thus interlocking the rear wall 13 to therear legs 11. The rear wall 13 also has a horizontal flange 51projecting inwardly from its under edge, a horizontal flange 52projecting outwardly from its upper edge and vertical flanges 53 whichextend substantially the full length of the wall 13. Resting on theflange 51 between the flanges 53 is an angle bar 54 a space being leftbetween the ends of the bar and the flanges 53.

Each pedestal 14 comprises a vertical wall 60, and an under wall 61integral therewith. The walls 60 and 61 form in conjunction with a sidewall 12 and the rear wall 13 a closed and dust proof compartment. Thefront edge 62 of the under wall 61 of the pedestal is flanged upwardlyand inwardly at right angles thereto to give a finished s in shape anddepth to the pocket 35 of the leg 11 and is substantially in linetherewith; The rear edge 66 of the wall 60 is also flanged laterally andinwardly to engage the flange 53 on the wall 13. An angle bracket 67 isfixed in the flange 62 at the outer end thereof and a second anglebracket 68 is fixed at the upper edge of the wall 60 and projectsoutwardly therefrom. Fixed upon the inner face of the wall 60 midway itswidth is a vertical flange 69 which isopposite the flange 45 on the wall12 and similar in construction thereto.

Fixed in each pedestal 14 is a drawer stop frame 7 0 comprising siderails 71 andstops 72, the ends of said stops being firmly. secured tothe side rails 71 asshown in Fig. 8. The side rails 71 at their forwardedges have triple right angle flanges 74 which are slid into the pocket35 in the leg 11 and pocket 65 of the pedestal 14, and at their rearwardedges have outwardly extending flanges 75. Thus the drawer stop frameis,'as shown in Figs. 7 and 8, slidably mounted in the pedestal 14between a front leg 11 and the vertical wall 60 of thepedestal. Theflange 74 of the outer rail 71 of each frame 70 is terminated along thelower edge of the rail by the height of the bracket 38.

Two drawer slide frames are provided in each pedestal and each comprisesslides 81 mounted at .each end upon vertical flange supports82 and 83(each Z-shaped in cross section). The forward support 82 of each frameengages the flange 75 of a rail 71 while the rearward support 83 of theleft frame (Fig. 3) engages the vertical flange 45 on the side wall;-The flange 83 of the 7 right frame (Fig. 3) engages the flange 69 onthe pedestal wall 60. 7

Above the upper drawer stop 72 of each frame 70 and below the top 15 islocated a desk leaf 90. This leaf, as shown in Figs. 5 and 9, is ofsheet metaland has flanges91 other finishing material.

and; 92, extending longitudinally along each side. The outer end of theleaf 9O terminates in a vertical flange 93 which not only creates a.finished; appearance to the end oi the leaf; but acts. as the means fordrawing out the leaf for use. A strap 94; secured to the under facenearr the inner end ofthe leaf isdished; at 95 to provide a recess whichreceivesnan angle bracket 96. The bracket 96when inserted in therecessof the plate 94; projects below the upper face of the upper stop 72 andthus prevents the involuntary removal of the leaf 90 from the desk. Arubber or other cushioning means 97 se- 5 cured to the bracket 96 at itslower end cushions the contact 01 the bracket with the upper stop whenthe leaf is pulled out to its limit; This leaf is slidably supportedupon tracks 98 secured to the supports 82 and 83 of the drawer guideframes 80. Eachtrack 98 comprises a flange 99, the upperpart 100 ofwhich is curved back upon itselfterlninating short of the base of theflange as shown in Fig. 9. It will be noted that the leaf 90 issupported upon its trackan appreciable distance below the-desk topsothat the leaf maybe faced with glass or other covering without in anyway interfering with the sliding action thereof.

Referring particularly to Fig. 9 it will be noticed that the curvedportion 100 of the track takes the weight of the leaf 90 at all timesduring itsslidingaction The flanges 92 extend into the space below thatportion so that, when the leaf is withdrawn from the desk, any pressuretending to tiltit will be counteracted by theflan cs 92 below the curvedpart 100 of the flange 99. The flanges 91 being at the sides of thepart100 limit the lateral play of the leaf. Thus it will be apparent thatthe inter-engagement of the leaf andtracks alone limits the play of theleaf and that the leaf at no time contacts with the top 15 of the desk.This manner of supporting a desk leaf gives to the leaf a smooth slidingaction with substantially no vertical or lateral play and admits of morethan normal pressure upon the leaf. 1 v e The desk top 15 isconstruc tedas a unit and includes abacking plate on which rests a; sheet 111 ofglass, linoleum or any Channel a members 112 are securedto the undersurface of the backing plate 110 with the openside against the plate and"extend.longitudinally giving support and rigidity to said, top. Securedto the under surfaceoigthe backing plate 110 along each edge are channel1112111".

bers 113 open at their outer sides. The channel member 112 nearest thefront of the top is secured'to the under face of theplatc'llO directlyin back of the member; 118. channel member, designated as 114-, rests directly, upon the frontlegs-cand Iron; itfthe and extending pasttheflange 11-5.

pedestals are suspended. Since; it br, i ilg6$ the space between thefront: legs 11, it takes any load or pressure on the desk; top, betweenthe legs and prevents it, from; being transmitted to, the pedestals.

Along the upper edge of each open side of the channel members 113 is:adownwardly projecting vertical flange 115. The open side is closed byan angle plate 116 carried by the lower wall 117 of the member: 113 Theangle plate 116 comprises a vertical member 118 and a horizontalmember119 at a slightly acute angle to each other. The horizontal member: 119is secured to the under face of the wall 117 by means of screws 120.(see Fig. 10). Between the membcr-118 andythc flange 1151 is astrilp121which is formed at itsupper edge tocurve overrandengage the edges ofthe'backing; plate l lOx'and, the sheet 111 and thus securely hold the sheet111 in place on the. plate 110. Referring particularly, to Fig; 1.0itwillbe noticedithat when the member 119 of the plate 116:- is looselyassembled to the walllll the strip 121 maybe located inthe,s'pacebetweemthe member 118 and the flange 11 5; Upon tightening thescrews 1205 thereby drawing the member 119 andwall 117 togetheuthemember 118 is forced upwardly engaging the curved shoulderotthestrip121; and forcing it over and against the edge. of the sheet 111 therebysecurely'clampingl-it: in place. This clamping a'cti'on' ofithe angleplate 1l6=upon the strip 121 providesavery simple.- and accessible meansof securing; and

releasing the. facing materialso. th'atrit. can

befremoned and replaced withoutdiificulty when desired. 1 1 Beforeassembling. the: deskeach element is completely finished; separately.-including thesteps ofpainting, enameling, etc.- The lower: portion ofthe. desk. is first assembled in the following, order The side wa1ls:.12and therear wall 13. are interlocked with thc legs. 11, by means of theflangesAOand 50 and the: pockets 35,- their, lower edges restingupon-the ledges 24: which act' to determine the positionof-said walls.The

pedestals 14; are next set in place beinginterlocked with the rear wall18 by the flanges 53 and the flanged edges 66. The under wall 61: ofllhQPGdGStitlflGStS upon the ledges 24-and. upon: the flanges 43 and 51of the sideandrear walls and is secured tolthe securing;the-- frame bothto the leg and .the

CTI

pedestal and preventing any relative shifting of said parts.

The drawer slide frames 80 are next slid into place being interlocked attheir forward ends with the rearward flanges 75 of the side rails 71 andat their rearward ends with the flanges 45 and 83 respectively on thewalls 12 and 60. The leaf 90 may be slid into place on the tracks 98,the bracket 96 being placed in the recess of the strap 94 after thestrap has passed the stop 72.

The body of the desk being now assembled, the top 15 is placed thereonresting upon the tops of the legs 11. The top is secured to the legs 11,the side walls 12, the rear wall 13, and the pedestals 1 1 by means ofscrews or bolts 131 which pass through holes in the brackets 36, flanges44, flange 52, and brackets 68, and enter the lower walls 117 of thechannel members 113.

By reason of the construction thus described the necessity for any frontcenter legs is eliminated, the pedestals being securely supported fromthe top and being interlocked and braced from the front legs by thedrawer stop frames. Moreover, the channel member 114, as previouslypointed out, acts with the front channel member 113 to resist anytendency of the top to yield and put any stress on the pedestals.

WVhile this invention has been shown and described as applied to a desk,it is, of course, applicable to other forms of metal furniture; andalthough only one embodiment of this invention has been shown anddescribed, applicant is not limited thereto since it is obvious thatother embodiments can be made without departing from the spirit andscope of this invention as set forth in the following claims.

Having thus set forth my invention, what I claim as new and for which Idesire protection by Letters Patent is:

l. A metal desk comprising a plurality of legs; side and rear walls, andchannular slidable interlocking means for securing said side and rearwalls to said legs; pedestals, drawer slide frames, drawer stop frames,top, and means for securing said pedestals, frames, and top to saidlegs, and said vertical walls.

2. A metal desk comprising a plurality of legs, side and rear wallsinterlocked thereto and against all horizontal movement therewith;pedestals interlocked to said rear wall, drawer slide frames, drawerstop frames; means for securing said drawer stop frames to said legs andsaid drawer slide frame, and a top secured to said walls and pedestals.

3. A metal desk comprising a plurality of flanged legs, side walls andrear wall, vertically flanged at their ends and interlocking throughouttheir length with the flanges on said legs; pedestals secured to saidrear wall, drawer stop frames in said pedestals; drawer slide framessecured to said side walls and to said drawer stop frames, and a topsecured to said walls and pedestals.

4:. A metal desk comprising a plurality of legs, side and rear wallsinterlocked to said legs, flanges secured to said walls, pedestalsflanged at their rear edges and interlocking with corresponding flangeson said rear wall, and secured to horizontal flanges on said side andrear walls; drawer slide frames, drawer stop frames, means for securingsaid frames to said legs, side walls and pedestals, and a top secured tosaid walls and pedestals.

5. A metal desk comprising a plurality of legs, side and rear wallsinterlocked to said legs, pedestals secured to said side and rear walls;drawer stop frames, flanges on said frames, pedestals and side walls;drawer slide frames provided with vertical flanges interlocked with theflanges on said side walls, drawer stop frames; means for securing saiddrawer stop frames to said legs, and pedestals, and a top secured tosaid walls and pedestals.

6. In a metal desk, a plurality ofrlegs having inner and outer walls,flanges securedto the inside face of said outer walls, which flanges inconjunction with said inner walls form pockets; and side walls havingflanges at their ends, said side wall flanges entering said pockets andinterlocking said side walls to said legs.

7. In a metal-desk, a plurality of legs, side and rear walls interlockedtherewith, horizontal flanges, integral with said side and rear walls,and projecting inwardly from said walls, a vertical flange secured tothe inside. face of said rear wall intermediate said legs; a pedestalcomprising a vertical wall and an under wall, said vertical wall beingflanged at its rearward end engaging 'and interlocking with the verticalflange secured to said rear wall, and said under wall being supportedupon the horizontal flanges of said side and rear walls and securedthereto. V

8. In a metal desk, a leg, a flange secured to the inside face of onewall of said leg, a pedestal including a vertical wall, a flange securedto the inner front portion of said wall, and a drawer stop frame, saidframe including vertical rails flanged at their forward and rearwardedges'and adapted to engage and interlock with the flange of saidpedestal wall and with the flange in said le r 9. In a metal desk, aplurality of legs having inner and outer walls, flanges secured to theinside face of said outer walls, which flanges in conjunction with saidinner walls form pockets; a side wall flanged at its ends and enteringcertain pockets in said legs, a vertical flange secured to said sidewall, a drawer stop frame having a side rail, said rail being flanged atits forward and rearward edges, the flanged forward edge entering apocket in one of said legs thus interlocking said rail to said leg; a

drawer slide frame having forward and rearward flanged supports, theforward support engaging the rearward flange of said rail, and therearward support engaging the flange secured to said side wall.

In testimony whereof I have aflixed my signature.

1 EARL JAMES CARD.

